Bomb and other stores containers for dropping from aircraft



Jan. 17, 1950 w. L. LAX ETAL 2494,85

, BOMB AND OTHER STORES CONTAINER FOR DROPPING FROM AIRCRAFT Filed June 29, 1945 5 Sheet-Sheet l N 2" N 7 LA. Q A; 33, n T l A a l FR.

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W. L. LAX ET AL BOMB AND OTHER STORES CONTAINER FOR DROPPING FROM AIRCRAFT Jan. 17,1950

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 29, 1945 Inventors Jan. 17, 1950 Filed June 29, 1945 W. L. LAX ET AL BOMB AND OTHER STORES CONTAINER FOR DROPPING FROM AIRCRAFT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 17, 1956 FOR DROPPING FROM AIRCRAFT 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 29, 1945 W. L. LAX ET AL BOMB AND OTHER STORES CONTAINER FOR DROPPING FROM AIRCRAFT Jan. 17, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 29, 1945 Patented Jan. 17, 1950 BOMB AND OTHER STORES'CONTAINERS' EOR DROPPING FRGM' AIRCRAFT Walter LennardiLax and; James Harrison, Snut E h m gh, ngland- Application June 29, 1945; Serial No. 602,224 Iii-Great Britain July 1", 1944 11 Claims,

This invention relates to improvements in, bombs and other. stores containers. (hereinaftertermed bombs) for dropping from aircraft.

The main object is to provide new or improved stabilising means which will ensure that the bomboccupies aminimum amount of'stowage space-and yet has maximum corrected movement in flight. A further object is the provision of bomb'stabilising means which will facilitate the design of a bomb having the maximum useful capacity in relation to the stowage space occupied. A still furtherobject is the provision of stabilising means for a bomb such that it can beused, at will, either-as a projectile which can be aimed accurately or as a projectile with low terminal velocity and which is eminently suitable for dropping either singly orin a cluster upon a target area.

According to the invention, the stabilising means comprises a collapsible or expansile drum tail which is in its folded or retracted state when the bomb is in the stowage position on the aircraft, and which is adapted to be erected or expanded whenthe bomb-is-released from the aircraft, the erection or expansion of the drum tail being effected byaerodynamic and/or mechanical means.

The bomb may also be fitted with a parachute and be adapted to be dropped under the control of either the drum tailor the parachute according to-the manner in which it is released from the aircraft, the arrangement being such that when'released for dropping'under parachute controlthe parachute opens and the drum tail remains inoperative, andwhen released for dropping underdrumtail control the drum tail is brought into the operative position by the opening of the parachute and the latter then frees itself from the bomb so as to leave it under thestabilising control of the drumtail.

The invention will-be described with reference to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 isa perspective view of one form of drum tail in thecontracted position for stowage.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a further form oftheinvention showing the drum tail erected by a detachable parachute.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showingthe drum tail and parachute in position for stowage.-

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a portion of the drum tail and parachuteat instant of release.

Fig. Eris-a perspective view showingbomb falling under the control of the parachutewith the drum tail in inoperative position.

1 Fig. 6 is a detail view partly-insectionshowing the arrangement, for retaining the drum tail re.- tracted.

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a, further form of; theinvention.

The rear end of the bomb or container I0 is provided with a. tail tube II having connected' thereto a plurality of tail segments I2 adapted to-lievin a, retracted", position as shown in Figs. 1 ands around the tail-.tube- I I within the maximum diameter of the bomb I0 during stowage but capable of being expanded to form a drum taili, during the descentof the-bomb by assuming the position shown in Fig. 2 in which the maX-imumdiameter of: the segments is. increased above that of. the bomb whereby they effect a stabilising moment-during the descent;

The segments I2. areaffixed to the tail tube II by articulated rods- I3 pivoted at one end on brackets I4; (Fig.3.), mounted on the interior of the-taiLtube II. andatthe other on brackets I5; carried on theinner surface of-the segments I2. In;.addition to; the rods I3, the segments I2. are supported by arms. I16. pivoted to brackets H I; on the tail tube; and to brackets IBI on the segments: to provide with the rods I 3 a parallelogram or'like linkage; Stiffening members I62 may. beflprovided between the arms I6 of each segment which assist aerodynamically in the erection. of the drumtail. The rods I3 pass through slots H2 in the: tail tube II. The lower portion I 33I' of-the-rods.l3 is pivoted thereto at IT and formed with. a slotted latched end I32 (Fig. 6) by which therods I3'are afiixed to the bomb II] whenthe drumtail is in the retracted position. The bomb' isvformed with a circumferentially. arranged set of projections or lugs IUI behind which the: latch portions of the ends I32- engage and with a series of locating members I02ionits outer diameter. The ends I32 are retained in position by a circumferential band ls engaging recessedportions 31 in the ends I32 and locatedby themembers I02. The ends of theba-nd II! are secured together by a pin I8I (Figs. 3 and'ffii) passing through lugs I82 onthe band'and lockediin position by a bifurcated pin I83passing through a. collar I84'and hole in the pin IBI. One end of a-cord' I9is attached to the pin I83, the otherend being connected to the aircraft. Thus when it is desired to release the bomb to fall under thecontrol of the drum tail the pin- I83 is withdrawn by the cord I9 and the band I8 falls away,- thereby freeing the arms I3 from the bomb II! to allow the drum tail to expand.:

The drum tailmaybe expanded on releaseoi the band I8 by springs, elastic cords or bands 20 connected between the members I62 and extending over the end of the tail tube II as shown in Fig. 1, rods 2|l| being welded to the tail tube II to prevent chafing of the band 20 on the tail tube, or the drum may be expanded by a parachute 2|; certain of the rigging lines 22 of which are connected to the ends I32 of the arms I3 as shown in Figs. 2 to 6.

In some cases it may be desired to provide a bomb which may be released either under the 7 control of the drum tail for stabilisation when falling on a specific target or under the control of a parachute to allow it to reach the ground with a low terminal velocity. This feature of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 2 to 6 of the drawings. in a housing in the form of a dished plate 23 to allow the parachute 2| to unfurl and the bomb descends suspended from the parachute on the rigging and shroud lines 22, 28 with a low terminal velocity.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7 the drum tail is retained in the retracted position for stowage by the band I8 and raised into the erect- The parachute 2| may be contained f fitting loosely upon or in the rear end of the tail tube Petal-like flaps 24 connected to the housing enclosethe folded'parachute and are held together at their apices by a wire 25 passing through eyelets MI in each flap with a pin 26 passing through a loop in the wire whereby on withdrawing. the pin 26 the flaps 24 are released to allow the parachute 2| to unfurl, or the parachute may be contained in any other known type of housing. The pin 26 is maintained in position by a thin cord or Weak link 26L Also attached to the pin 26 is a static cord 21 by which the pin 26 is withdrawn on rupture of the weak link 26L The other end of the static cord 21 is connected to the aircraft. One end of a further cord 262 is also attached to the pin 26, the other end of which is attached to the crown ef'the parachute 2|. This cord 262 is somewhat stouter and longer than the cord 2fi| so that on withdrawal of the pin' 26 this cord tautens after rupture of the cord 26| and assists in the withdrawal of the parachute from the housing after which it, in turn, is ruptured by the pull on the static cord 21.

Shroud lines 28 from the parachute 2| are connected to the rigging lines 22 to suspend the bomb from the parachute (Fig. 5) where it is dropped with the drum tail unexpanded, or to move the drum into its expanded position on release of the band I8 (Figs. 2and 4).

When the bomb is to be dropped under the stabilising control of the drum tail the cord I9 withdraws the pin I83 to free the band I8 on release of the bomb from the aircraft and the static cord 2'! withdraws the pin 26 allowing the parachute 2| to unfurl (Fig. '4). The rigging lines 22 connected to the ends'l32 of the arms I3 tauten thereby pivoting the ends I32 upwards about joint I! and raising them to expand the tail segments I2 into their erected position, this operation being assisted by the air flow around the bomb l0 once the diameter of the drum tail has been increased beyond that of' the bomb; Slots I22 may be provided in the segments I2 to allow the articulated portion |3| of the rod I3 to move suiiiciently to free the rigging lines 22. When the drum tail is fully expanded, pins 22| (Fig 6) by which therigging lines 22 are con-' nected to the ends I32 slide out of slots I33 therein thereby releasing the parachute 2| from-the bomb I0 which thereafter falls under the stabilising control of the drum tail. When the' drum tail is fully expanded hook members I34 on the rods I3 engage locking pins ||3 mounted on ed position on release of the band by elastic cords 20 as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1, but the rods I3 of the parallelogram motion are replaced by links 29 pivoted at one end to brackets 29I on the inside of the segments and at the other end to the brackets H5- It will be seen that the provision ,of a drum tail which is retractable within the maximum;

mum diameter of the bomb, a parallelogram link-- age by which eachsegment is connected to the tail tube, a band extending circumferentially ofthe body to maintain the linkage and drum collapsed during stowage, pins retaining the ends of the band together, a cord connected to one of the pins by which it is withdrawn to release the band and a parachute connected to the linkages by which said linkages and segments are moved to erect the drum tail on the release of the band.

' 2. A device adapted for dropping irom'aircraft as in claim 1, slotted articulated arms forming one member of the parallelogram link-.

ages, and rigging lines from the parachute detachably connected to thelower ends of the slotted arms by which the tail drum is erected after release of the retaining band. 3. A device'adapted for dropping from aircraft as in claim 1, slotted articulated arms form-'- ing one member of the parallelogram linkages; rigging lines from the parachute detachably connected to the lower ends of the slotted arms by which the tail drum is erected after release of the retaining band, a housing for the parachute, petal-like flaps by which the parachute is enclosed for storage/an anchor pin by which the flaps are held in the closed positionand a static cord for withdrawing the pin and releasing the parachute.

'4. A'device adapted for dropping from aircraft comprising a body portion and tail tube in com-'- bination with an expansile drum tail of greater diameter when expanded than the bomb, a plurality of segments forming the drum tail and adapted when contracted to lie within the maxi-'- mum diameter ofthe bomb, a parallelogram 1ink-; age by which each segment is connected to the tail tube, a band extending circumferentially of the body to maintain the linkage and drum collapsed, articulated arms forming one member of the parallelogram linkage, a parachute, rigging lines from the parachute connected to the lower ends of the arms, further rigging lines from the parachute to the retaining band, a housing for the parachute, petal-like flaps by which the parachute is enclosed for stowage, an anchor pin by which the flaps are held in the closed position and a static cord for withdrawing the pin and releasing the parachute.

5. A device adapted for dropping from aircraft comprising a body portion, a stabilising tail operatively connected to said body portion, a parachute, linking means between said parachute and said body portion, both said tail and said parachute being collapsed in inoperative position prior to dropping of the device from the aircraft, and selectively actuatable means for either rendering said parachute effective to control the fall of said device after it has been dropped and retaining said stabilising tail in inoperative position, or for expanding said stabilising tail to operative position and releasing said parachute from the device so that the fall of the latter is controlled by said tail only.

6. A device adapted for dropping from aircraft comprising a body portion, an expansile tail operatively connected to said body portion, a parachute, connecting means between said parachute and said body portion, said parachute being collapsed in inoperative position prior to dropping of the device from the aircraft, means for releasing said parachute to permit it to unfurl after said device has been dropped, means for normally retaining the elements of said tail in retracted position, means operable at will prior to dropping of the device for releasing the elements of said tail to permit expansion of the tail, means for effecting expansion of the tail, and means operable as the result of expansion of said tail for freeing said parachute from connection to said body portion after said tail has been expanded.

'7. A device adapted for dropping from aircraft comprising a body portion, an expansile tail operatively connected to said body portion and having elements normally retained in retracted position, a parachute, means for housing said parachute in collapsed condition prior to dropping of the device from the aircraft, means for releasing said parachute to permit it to unfurl after said device has been dropped, connecting means between said parachute and the elements of said tail for erecting said tail after said parachute hs unfurled, means for releasing the elements of said tail for erection by the action of said parachute, and means for freeing said parachute from connection to the elements of said tail after the tail has been erected.

8. A device adapted for dropping from aircraft comprising a body portion, a plurality of elements forming an expansile drum tail operatively connected to said body portion, means for normally retaining said elements in retracted condition, a parachute, means for housing said parachute in collapsed condition prior to dropping of the device from the aircraft, means for releasing said parachute to permit it to unfurl after said device has been dropped, connecting means between said parachute and said elements for erecting said tail after said parachute has been unfurled, means for releasing said elements for erection by the action of said parachute, and means for freeing said parachute from connection to said elements after said tail has been erected.

9. A device adapted for dropping from aircraft comprising a body portion, a plurality of elements mounted for pivotal movement in relation to said body portion to form an expansile tail for the stabilisation thereof, means normally retaining said elements in retracted condition, a parachute, means for housing said parachute in collapsed condition prior to dropping of the device from the aircraft, means for releasing said parachute to permit it to unfurl after said device has been dropped, connecting means between said parachute and said elements for erecting said tail after said parachute has unfurled, and means for releasing said elements for erection by the action of said parachute.

10. A device adapted for dropping from aircraft comprising a body portion, a plurality of elements pivotally mounted in relation to said body portion to form a stabilising tail therefor, means normally retaining said elements in retracted condition, a parachute, means for housing said parachute in collapsed condition prior to dropping of the device from the aircraft, means for releasing said parachute to permit it to unfurl after said device has been dropped, connecting means between said parachute and said elements for erecting said tail after said parachute has unfurled, means for releasing said elements for erection by said parachute, and means operable upon erection of said elements to free said parachute from connection to said elements.

11. A device adapted for dropping from aircraft comprising a body portion, a plurality of arcuate members, a parallelogram linkage connecting each of said arcuate members to said body portion, a band extending circumferentially of said body portion to maintain said linkages and said arcuate members in collapsed condition, locking means for releasably retaining the ends of said band in juxtaposition, means for effecting the release of the ends of said band, a parachute, means for housing said parachute in collapsed condition prior to dropping of the device from the aircraft,

means for releasing said parachute to permit it to unfurl after said device has been dropped, and connecting means between said parachute and said arcuate members and linkage for erecting the latter to form a stabilising tail for said body portion after said parachute has unfurled.

WATER LENNARD LAX. JAMES HARRISON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Oct. 22, 1937 4 

